Chapter 7 - The Truth About Lena
Victor was arrested two weeks later.
But the truth about Lena came out slowly.
He hadn't physically killed her.
But he had ordered Marcus Vane to sabotage her car.
Marcus had died before he could be prosecuted.
Victor had assumed that would bury the evidence.
It didn't.
Lena had left enough behind.
The final piece came from Daniel Brooks.
He agreed to testify.
In exchange, he received a reduced sentence.
He admitted he had helped cover up the financial crimes.
But he insisted he never knew Victor planned to kill Lena.
I believed him.
Not because he deserved forgiveness.
But because Lena's files proved it.
Victor eventually confessed.
Not to everything.
But enough.
He admitted Lena had discovered the theft.
He admitted threatening her.
He admitted ordering Marcus to scare her.
He claimed he never intended her to die.
But the law didn't care about his intentions.
Neither did I.
At Victor's sentencing, he looked at me.
“You ruined everything.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
“You destroyed the company.”
“No.”
“You destroyed my life.”
I shook my head.
“You did that.”
He looked away.
I didn't feel victorious.
I felt tired.
After the hearing, I visited Lena's grave.
For the first time in two years, I spoke aloud.
“I should have listened.”
The wind moved through the trees.
“I should have noticed.”
I placed flowers beside her name.
“I know now.”
Then I told her about June.
About Lila.
About Micah.
About how June had finally stopped apologizing when she ate.
I smiled.
“She reminds me of you.”
Maybe that was why I couldn't walk away from her story.
Lena had always noticed people.
She had always cared about the ones everyone else ignored.
I had spent years believing her kindness was softness.
Now I understood it was strength.
I sat there until sunset.
May you like
Then I stood.
“I'll finish what you started.”
